The Route: Start at Bilsborrow
- 1 Staining
- 2 Preesall
Stanah lunch
- 3 Thornton Marsh Mill
- 4 Staining
- 4a Pride of Fylde
- 5 Little Marton
Rest stop RCC Lytham
- 6 Lytham
- 7 Wrea Green
- 8 Kirkham Dow Bridge
- 9 Treales
- 10 Clifton
Refreshments Preston Marina
- 11 Cragg Mill Finish point
Approx 60 Miles.
Chairmans Report
7 riders turned up at Bilsborrow, unfortunately Lawrie had phoned to say his bike wouldn’t start and Bob, Jim, and Richard K were away. Just before we set off Dianne was called away to her poorly mum so that left 6 riders to go tilting at windmills.
After about 1 mile Richard pulled over as he had a puncture, well the valve had pulled out of the tube but Dave had a tube and levers so after 30 minutes we were off again up the A6. We turned off left at Garstang towards Nateby and then a right to Stakepool. Turned right onto the A588 towards Cockerham but quickly turned left towards Pilling to stop outside Pilling windmill which is a lovely house and is up for sale. (£500K)
Then off through Pilling and back onto the A588 but this time towards Hambleton. We turned of towards Knott End and then left to arrive in Preesall and the B5377. Turning left and travelling a few hundred yards we pulled into the yard in front of the remains of Preesall Windmill. Now a Joinery business. We then carried on along the B5377 towards Hambleton and at the junction with the A588 we turned sharp right into Cemetery Lane to follow the lanes back towards Hambleton. Many horses were out today so we were taking it steady.
Back on the A588 in Hambleton we crossed Shard Bridge and at the traffic lights turned right for Fleetwood. At the first roundabout we turned off for Thornton but just before we arrived we took the turn for Stannah Country park for a lunch stop. The day was lovely and we sat on the seats overlooking the river. We sat looking towards Fleetwood watching the tide come in. In the river we spotted someone apparently fishing but as the tide came in he became cut off on a sandbank and we thought he was going to be in trouble but he was obviously an experienced fisherman and continued fishing in the river in his waders when the sand island he was on quickly disappeared under water. From the park we headed into Thornton to visit Marsh Mill. This is a lovely mill and is well preserved.
From Thornton we set off through Carlton and Poulton-Le-Fylde where we turned off to Hardhorn, High Cross and then Staining. Here we pulled up in front of Staining windmill. Just as we finished taking photos the lady occupant came out and spoke to us and invited us inside to see the ground floor and garden. She was very proud of her windmill and explained how the wind had damaged it at one time and she had replaced the sails and cap and even now one of the sails was needing repair from recent gales. The rear garden was lovely and well kept with a long pond that had bridge over it and some huge carp in it that came to her when she stamped on the edging. We thanked her very much and returned to the bikes and set off for the “Secret windmill” which was in the centre of Staining an is decorative windmill announcing it to be the “Pride of Fylde”
From here we drove to Little Marton on the outskirts of Blackpool to stop and take a picture at Little Marton Mill. From here we joined the A583 towards Preston but turned off to Lytham through Peel and Ballam. At Lytham it was Club Day so we rode through the crowds to Market Square and down Clifton Street to turn right to the prom and on to the Cruising Club where we parked for a few minutes for a rest and found out that the RCC had gained a first prize in its section of the Club Day Parade.
We then set off for Wrea Green but before leaving Lytham we stopped on the green for a photo of the windmill and Old Lifeboat Station. Just outside of Wrea Green we pulled into the car park of The Villa Restaurant to see Wrea Green windmill which is hidden in its grounds. From here we drove round the green, where a cricket match was in progress, and round the pond back to the A583 towards Preston. We took the east access road to Kirkham and stopped just before Dow Bridge to see Kirkham Windmill which is another mill for sale. (£695K).
From here a short ride up to Treales where another almost hidden windmill can be seen from the road. This is again a house and surprise, surprise is up for sale at (£450k). On then to the Hand and Dagger at Salwick to turn right to Clifton where we turned into the Windmill Tavern car park to take some pictures.
By this time we needed another comfort break so we drove down to Preston Marina and took advantage of the Marina Café to have a mug of tea, some cakes and a chat.
So finally we were off to the most unknown mill in these parts which is in Preston. In the Adelphi district of the University there is a little road called Cragg’s Row where Cragg Mill, a brick built mill, still stands with its distinctive external hoist.
So here the run ended after about 60 miles from the start point. We had seen 11 proper windmill towers and a couple of decorative ones (Staining and Lytham Square)
We had good dry weather and acceptable traffic considering the amount of town riding we had done.
Thanks to all for the help with the puncture.
Daves Report
This was a well planned run by Chairman Richard to visit and tilt our spark plug spanners at every windmill on the Fylde.
7 members met and started off at Billsborough, immediately stopping to mend a puncture in Richard’s rear tyre, we were on our way again in ½ hour in very warm, sunny weather. Unfortunately Diane had to return home to look after her mother.
The first mill was at Pilling, then on to Preesall before our lunch stop overlooking the Wyre Estuary. Off again we visited the mills at Thornton and Staining (and one scale model) where we were invited in to look through the mill and gardens!
Then we visited the 2 well-known mills at Marton and Lytham before some small and well-hidden mills at Wrea Green, Kirkham, Treales and Clifton. We were all a bit ‘milled out’ by now and took a well earned coffee break at Preston Docks Marina.
The last and most intriguing was the mill in the centre of Preston which was in a bit of a state but still standing and maybe one day might be restored. It was surprising how many of the mills were well looked after and many have their sails etc.
Thanks Richard for a grand day out.
Dave A.